MILWAUKEE IN SUMMER: RECOMMENDATIONS, FOOD & OUTFIT DETAILS

Growing up in Milwaukee all of my life, the fantasizer in me, admittedly, could not wait to move to a huge cosmopolitan city in hopes of chasing large dreams, making big moves, and exploring diversity in a way that I was never really exposed to in the quaint midwestern town. However, after finally relocating to Boston for seven years (I understand now that Boston isn’t really considered a large city per se, but it was still a major change in several ways), I have come to deeply appreciate Milwaukee’s quirky and unpretentious ways a bit more every time I return to visit.

Best known for their beers, cheese, cultish Green Bay Packers fans, and pleasant (summer) weather because of Lake Michigan, there is no doubt that Milwaukee is one of America’s hidden treasure full of little surprises: their well-supported and unique local businesses, a blossoming food scene, its beautiful lakeshore scenery, and of course, the friendly, very midwestern locals.

Outfit Details: MADEWELL LAKESHORE BUTTON-BACK DRESS (I’m wearing an XXS, this dress is not fitted, however it is not entirely shapeless because of the thin material that clings to the body during movement). JOE’S SERAFINA MULE (The red color is currently sold out, but I have linked to some neutral colors. I’m wearing a size 7, true to my size. I have wide feet and these are really comfortable for me. I think true size might be too loose for those with narrower feet).GUCCI SOHO DISCO BAG (This bag is versatile and goes with any outfit). FITBIT (These little devices are perfect for tracking your steps when you’re out and about!)

What To Do

RIVERWALK

Take a stroll on the Riverwalk that snakes in between the heart of the city – a three mile stretch of pedestrian walkway alongside the Milwaukee River where you’ll pass many fantastic boutiques, restaurants, bars, and breweries. This scenic route strings together three unique districts: Historic Third Ward, Downtown Milwaukee, and Beerline B.

During my most recent return, I mainly wandered in the Historic Third Ward, a charming, up-and-coming neighborhood with a strong presence of local businesses, artistic activities, and culinary experiences. It’s a great place to just explore and enter into cool shops that catches your eye.

LAKEFRONT

Lake Michigan is truly something. Whenever I fly over it, I love to look out the windows to observe the aerial view of the sparkling blue lake – it is the clearest large body of water I have seen in the states. Fortunately, you can enjoy the lake up close in Milwaukee’s trendy waterfront.

Bradford Beach:

If I’m going to be completely honest, I would have to admit that the water is cold 99.999% of the time there. But on those rare days when the lake is warm enough to plunge into, the weather is probably scorching and very beach-worthy. Grab some towels, get your tan on, and maybe even play a game of volleyball or two on this popular beach. Yes, locals flock to this beach on those hot days so it will probably be packed if the weather is nice. But, you can always escape and walk along a nice bike path adjacent to the beach.

Milwaukee Art Museum: 

A piece of architecture that is an all-time favorite backdrop of local and visiting photographers (and bloggers) alike, is the outside of the Milwaukee Art Museum. A 2001 addition of the museum dubbed the Quadracci Pavilion, this structural masterpiece designed by architect Santiago Calatrava graces the lakefront, with wings (Burke Brise Soleil) that open daily. The exhibitions inside are worth visiting as well with tickets ranging from $17 – $19 for entrance.

Summerfest: 

Should you ever find yourself visiting towards the end of June and beginning of July, this popular music festival is definitely a choice experience. It is a fantastic venue for munching on cheese curds, eating fried anything-that-you-can-imagine, drinking beer, people watching (lots of drunk people I tell you!)… and oh of course, listening to great music. General admission tickets are $21 and gives you access to the entire ground for the whole day where you can hop from stage-to-stage listening to different performers. However, this excludes admission to the amphitheater where major headliners usually perform. My advice is to glance at the lineup and pick a day where a couple of your favorite bands are playing, hang out by the water in between shows, and stay until the evening, when the grounds light up and the crowds get rowdier. 

Places To Eat (And Drink)

BREWERIES

There are so many breweries in Milwaukee that you really can’t escape go wrong with any. Some popular (and recognizable) ones include the Pabst Brewery (some pretty historic stuff!), MillerCoors, Milwaukee Brewing Company, Sprecher, etc, etc, etc.

However, one of my personal favorites is the Lakefront Brewery, stationed in the Beerline B neighborhood. I highly recommend going in for a tour. For only $11, you get an hour long, extremely entertaining tour (there was singing involved), four 6 oz pours of beer of your choice, and a pretty sweet pint glass. That’s not even the best of it – in addition to great beer, the place also has amazing (fried) cheese curds that locals rave about. The German-style beer hall where they serve the food is also the perfect representation of Germany Milwaukee.

RESTAURANTS

Odd Duck: $$-$$$

This rustic restaurant really drove home that people really don’t give Milwaukee enough credit for its food… The city is not all just about cheese and beer you know (although they have a fair amount of those too)! Their dishes are composed of small fusion plates that are fantastic for sharing family-style. Both vegetarian and carnivore friendly, the menu offers a variety of selections. Although the menu changes frequently, they keep their main ingredients relatively stable.

Here are some of my favorites:

Crispy Oyster Mushroom and Seared Sea Scallops 

Charred Octopus and Japanese Cheesecake & Flourless Chocolate Cake (where you see Zach and my sister smiling over)

Another important detail to note: their drinks menu includes a very long list of local beers, creative cocktails, and delicious wine.

SweetDiner: $$

The interior of this always-packed brunch place is massive, open, modernly designed, and full of excellent lighting for those perfect Instagram shots. But moving on to the food… They have a very typical brunch menu including excellent coffee.

Here is what we got (counter-clockwise):

Guiltless Omlet
egg whites, chicken sausage, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions and peppers

Berries and Chicken Salad
fresh seasonal berries, seared organic chicken breast, candied walnuts, organic greens, tossed in dark cherry vinaigrette

Belgian Waffles
served with whipped butter, maple syrup, a side of whipped cream, and fruit

Although they do play it safe with their basic brunch ingredients, the food was still extremely tasty (and come on, sometimes you do need a traditional brunch place to down all of the mimosas). The ambience and excellent service gives this restaurant an extra edge.

Kopps Frozen Custard: $

I’m going straight to the point: just do yourselves a huge favor and get some frozen custard. It doesn’t matter what flavor you get, they’re all good. They also have delicious (very big and greasy) burgers, but if you’re too full for both, SKIP THE BURGER AND GET THE CUSTARD. And expect the place to be packed all the time with a ton of locals.

Colectivo Coffee: $

A favorite of Milwaukee natives. They are a local coffee roaster chain that offers fantastic coffee, interesting sodas, and yummy teas and smoothies. The café has an excellent bakery, breakfast and lunch menu as well, but I usually stop by for the coffee since most of their locations are usually packed (blame it on the coziness making it a perfect place to put in earphones and work or to meet up with friends).

Below I have included a map of the places that I have recommended! You can see that they all pretty much cluster in one area for easy explorations 🙂